Energy Sources Of The Future Essay Example for Free

Energy Sources Of The Future Essay Since Industrial Revolution, the use of fossil fuels has been the main source of power for their extensive use in industries, vehicles and in various scientific discoveries. This is continuing till today especially as some of the energy sources are being used up, but the needs of the current power are on the increase whereas the different sources of the planet continue to deplete. Notwithstanding electricity being generated in the power plants is making extensive use of the fossil fuels. The way human is interfering in the natural process for meeting his varied needs is causing the depletion of the fossil fuels at 50 million times more at the rate, which it is being formed. Coal, Oil and Natural gas are the three forms of energy found very near to the surface of the earth. Coal as a source of energy is being extensively used in United States. Oil is another major source of fossil fuel getting extracted every year in the form of petroleum like gasoline, kerosene, gas oil, lubricating oils, and fuel oils to be used in vehicles. Another form is Natural gas mainly being used is methane and is highly inflammable. All over the world scientists are declaring non renewable form of sources as scarce with the continuous search for the alternative renewable sources of energy like wind, air, sun power, heat etc. These forms of energy sources can be replenished continuously. Renewable sources of energy like solar, wind, biomass etc. are dependent on the solar energy directly or indirectly while on the other hand hydroelectric power is not essentially a renewable source of power because in case it is used in the large scale projects, it can result in ecological damage and irreversible consequences. (Farret Simoes, 2006) In 1991, a national wind resource wind inventory by the United States Department of Energy found that three states of the United States, North Dakota, Kansas and Texas have enough of the wind energy to meet the electricity needs of the whole nation. It was found that wind has much greater capacity to produce electricity than any other form of energy would produce. Much of the advancement made in the designs of the wind turbine since 1991 enabled the turbines to operate at lower wind speeds for harnessing more of the wind energy and for harvesting it at much greater heights. Comparatively very large share of the land area can be utilized for generating wind in very scarce populated wind rich areas like Patagonian region of Argentina, Great Plains of North America, Northwest China, and eastern Siberia. In 2002, it was found that it has comparatively higher rate of generating capacity of around 31, 100 megawatts (electricity forum. com) and is increasing continuously satisfying the needs of 40 million Europeans. Utilization of the wind is cheap, conducive to the environment, available in plenty and best renewable source of power. (Associated Press, 2008) Another form of alternative source of energy being experimented on a large scale is the power of sun. Though rate of solar power striking earth is in a very small fraction yet it provides around 10000 times of total commercial energy used by humans on planet. Solar power is an attractive dominant long-term alternative sustainable source of energy. The benefits are manifold- its availability is limitless, environmental friendly, and can be transmitted to earth from sun without any cost. (National Academy of Engineering, Online) Solar panels constitute most common means for tapping solar energy. Sunlight is converted to electricity through the use of solar cells photovoltaics. No doubt solar panels are used for capturing light energy, scientists are still working for improving methods of harvesting sun’s energy. Stephen Maldonado and his team of Michigan University are working upon the designing those systems that can be used for converting solar energy into chemical bond energy, which in turn can be used for producing electricity. The main disadvantage of solar energy is that it cannot be stored for long period and has to be consumed immediately. To overcome this limitation, they are using plants as model because plants are able to convert solar energy into chemical bond energy for producing chemical fuels so they are hoping to devise that system which is able to store solar energy in the form of chemical bonds for long periods of time. (Steinberg, 2009) Geothermal form of energy may not be as conducive as far as its effects are concerned as compared to solar or wind, but it is also best renewable source of energy for the next generation and is one of the most cheaper forms of energy producing 50 times less quantity of CO2, nitric oxide, and sulfur emissions than other conventional use of fossil fuel power plants with other benefit being not requiring power storage. Geothermal energy is limitless and inexhaustible and â€Å"Geothermal power plants run at 89 to 97 percent uptime, in contrast to 75 to 90 percent uptime being offered from coal and nuclear. † (triplepundit, 2009) There is no doubt of the fact that our future lies in tapping nuclear power responsible for extricating 16 per cent of the world’s electric power. There are around 442 nuclear plants which are under operation in 30 countries with most of them operating in Western Europe and North America. Nuclear power creates no impact on global warming, as their emission level of greenhouse gases is virtually nil. From the uranium mining process to waste disposal including reactor and construction, in the whole of nuclear chain emanates only 2-6 grams of carbon per kilowatt-hour. This is very similar to the wind and solar power. It is a fact that if all over the world 440 nuclear power plants had to be closed down and in place are used the mix of non-nuclear sources, there would be an increase of 600 million tones of carbon every year. Though the nuclear plant is costly affair but it is more feasible if its long terms benefits are seen. (The International Atomic Energy Agency, 2004) Among the other sources of energy Algae is being rendered as an important alternative source of energy to biofuels on account of its higher level of energy contents, and yield per acre and its capacity to grow best in water. Its capacity to grow in water is quite huge. As per U. S. Department of Energy (DOE), algae have a potential capacity for producing 100 times more oil per acre than soybeans. Due it’s a higher content level, oil from algae can get refined into biodiesel, green gasoline, jet fuel or ethanol. Moreover, algae require only water, sunlight and CO2 for its growth. (Donovan Stowe, 2009) Looking at the benefits of the several alternative sources of energy, along with their cost effectiveness and the non pollutant properties, the need of the hour is to put an end to the use of the conventional source of energy and make use of the most cost effective alternative sources of energy. The innovative and technologically advanced use of the gift of nature will create an environment of the fresh air with more comforts for the whole human race. Reference List Associated Press. 2008. Wind energy could fuel future power needs. Retrieved on June 14, 2009 from W.W. W. : http://www. electricityforum. com/news/aug03/windenergy. html Donovan, J. Stowe, N. (2009). Is the Future of Biofuels in Algae? Retrieved on June 14, 2009 from W. W. W. : http://www. renewableenergyworld. com/rea/news/article/2009/06/is-the-future-of-biofuels-in-algae? cmpid=rss Farret, F. A. Simoes, M. G. (2006). Integration of alternative sources of energy. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons. National Academy of Engineering. 2008. Make solar energy economical. Retrieved on June 14, 2009 from W. W. W. : http://www. engineeringchallenges. org/cms/8996/9082. aspx/